The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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AUGUST 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 9 BY ANTHONY BROOME M ichigan will have 42 athletes with connections to the program at the Summer Olympics in Paris. Eleven of those individuals performed for the Wolverines in 2023-24: Frederick Rich- ard (men's gymnastics), Paul Juda (men's gymnastics), Lais Najjar (men's gym- nastics), Savannah Sutherland (women's track), Dubem Amene (men's track), Austin Gomez (wrestling), Yousuf Al- Matrooshi (men's swimming), Eitan Ben- Shitrit (men's swimming), Gal Groumi (men's swimming), Stephanie Balduccini (women's swimming) and Natalie Kan (women's swimming). A trio of incoming freshmen in Syla Swords (women's bas- ketball), Jon Joentvedt (men's swimming) and Lorne Wigginton (men's swimming) also will compete in Paris. Eleven Michigan coaches and staffers are headed to Paris as well, headlined by three U-M head coaches: Sean Bormet (wrestling), Erin Virtue (women's volley- ball) and Yuan Xiao (men's gymnastics). Michigan's representation covers 22 Olympic teams — the United States (eight), Canada (eight), Australia (two), Brazil (two), Germany (two), Hong Kong (two), Israel (two), Serbia (two), Austria (one), Bulgaria (one), Great Britain (one), Malaysia (one), Mexico (one), Nigeria (one), Nor- way (one), Puerto Rico (one), Roma- nia (one), San Marino (one), Singapore (one), South Africa (one), Syria (one) and United Arab Emirates (one). The 2024 Olympics in Paris begin July 26 and will run through Aug. 11. The Paralympics will begin at the end of August and will feature Chuck Aoki, a community access navigator with U-M Adaptive Sports and Fitness. ❱ Inside Michigan ATHLETICS Forty-Two Athletes With Michigan Ties Are Headed To Paris Olympic Games U-M ROSTER FOR THE 2024 PARIS OLYMPICS Men's Basketball • Franz Wagner, Germany, U-M letterwinner (2020-21) • Moritz Wagner, Germany, U-M letterwinner (2016-18) Women's Basketball • Syla Swords, Canada, incoming U-M freshman (2024) Cycling • Mike Woods, Canada, U-M track (2005-06)/cross country (2004-07) letterwinner Field Hockey • Abby Tamer, USA, U-M letterwinner (2021-present) Women's Golf • Ashley Lau, Malaysia, U-M letterwinner (2019-23) Men's Gymnastics • Lais Najjar, Syria, U-M letterwinner (2022-present) • Kevin Penev, Bulgaria, U-M letterwinner (2019) • Fred Richard, USA, U-M letterwinner (2023-present) • Paul Juda, USA, U-M letterwinner (2020-24) • Sam Mikulak, USA (assistant coach), U-M letterwinner (2011-14) • Syque Caesar, USA (assistant coach), U-M letterwinner (2009, 2011-14) • Yuan Xiao, USA (assistant coach), U-M head coach (2021-present), assistant coach (2006-21) • Jordan Gaarenstroom, USA (assistant coach), U-M letterwinner (2011-14), assistant coach (2019-present) • Juha Tanskanen, Syria (assistant coach), U-M assistant coach (2022-present) Women's Rowing • Abigail (Abby) Dent, Canada, U-M senior, letterwinner (2021-present) • Paige Badenhorst, South Africa, U-M letterwinner (2018-21) Women's Rugby • Alena Olsen, USA, U-M graduate (2018) Former U-M wrestler Stevan Micic, the reigning world champion at 57 kilograms, will represent Serbia in the 2024 Paris Olympics. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY Continued on next page